|
May 31, 2016
|
Featured Stories
In The News
Meetings & Notices
This Week's Featured Event
Announcements
Arts, Entertainment & Events
Deals & Promos
BID Services & Links
Construction & Utility Work Update
City of Boston Services
|
|
One Bromfield Street Development
Public Meeting on June 2nd
There will be a public meeting about the proposed development for One Bromfield Street hosted by the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
A Public Meeting for the proposal will be on Thursday, June 2nd from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Suffolk University's Law School Moot Courtroom, 120 Tremont St. 4th Floor. Please contact Chris Tracy of the BRA at [email protected] or 617-918-4259 for more info or questions.
The current proposal is for a 683-foot, 59-story mixed-use tower including 30,000 sq.-ft. of retail and 419 residential units. |
|
Register Now for Boston Municipal Research Bureau Member Briefing on June 7th
The Boston Municipal Research Bureau (333 Washington St.) and KPMG are hosting a BMRB Member Briefing with Atyia Martin on Tuesday, June 7th.
Martin is the City of Boston's Chief Resilience Officer and is in charge preparing the city for catastrophes, whether natural or man-made. Her work also includes social and economic resilience to address the disparities of race and class to better position the whole city to thrive after emergencies.
Please RSVP by June 3rd by clicking here. This event is from 7:45 to 9 am at KPMG (2 Financial Center - 60 South St. 2nd Floor, Longfellow Bridge Room). |
|
Open House for Winthrop Square Garage Proposals on June 13th
The Boston Redevelopment Authority is hosting a public open house to allow the six development teams vying for the chance to redevelop the property at 115 Winthrop Square an opportunity to present their concepts and answer questions about the proposal. This meeting is on Monday, June 13th at Faneuil Hall's Great Hall from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
The six prospective developers responded to a request for proposals (RFP) in April to replace the Winthrop Square Garage, which has been closed for several years. Click here to learn about the proposals. For more info please contact Edward O'Donnell at 617-918-6225 or Ed.O'[email protected]. |
|
This Week's Featured Event
|
|
Wendy Liebman Headlines Community Works' Share A Laugh Fundraiser at Paramount Center on June 2nd
Community Works will present the 9th Annual Share A Laugh benefit with Wendy Liebman, below, and friends on Thursday, June 2nd at the Paramount Center (559 Washington St.) at 7:30 pm.
Hosted by Emmy Award-winning A&E critic Joyce Kulhawik, below, this year's event will include comedians Mike Bent, Jon Rineman, Liza Donnelly, Carolyn Plumme, Suzi Berlin, Emily Singer and Jennifer Rawlings. Proceeds from the benefit will go to Community Works, which supports its 30-member organization through networking, training, technical assistance and pooled resources. Tickets are $35 or $15 for students with ID. Click here to purchase tickets or call 617-423-9555. |
|
Arts, Entertainment & Events
|
|
Live Soloist Perfomers at 133 Federal Street on Wednesdays and Fridays
The BID sponsors soloist performers outside of 133 Federal St. on Wednesdays and Fridays for everyone to enjoy.
Fiddler Avery Ballotta will perform on Wednesday, June 1st and Friday, June 3rd. These performances are from noon to 2 pm.
|
|
Orlando Retana Performing at
Free Berklee Concert Series at
100 Summer Street Plaza
The Berklee College of Music Summer Concert Series continues at the 100 Summer Street Plaza. The series offers free musical performances every Tuesday and Thursday from Berklee students.
Orlando Retana will perform on Thursday, June 2nd. Originally from Costa Rica, his family moved to Calgary, Canada, when he was 14, and he discovered different music styles like jazz, funk, fusion and classical. At 19, he came to Berklee College of Music to study, and he has been able to work with great musicians like Jetro da Silva, Oscar Stagnaro, Leo Blanco, Susana Baca, and Paquito D'Rivera, among others, during his time at Berklee.
All performances are from noon to 2 pm. Performances may be cancelled due to weather or changed due to scheduling. Click here to see all of the upcoming performances. |
|
Boston Calling Block Party at Dewey Square with Nemes on June 2nd
This week's Boston Calling Music Festival Block Party in Dewey Square will feature music from Nemes on Thursday, June 2nd. The block parties are free and open to all members of public aged 21+.
The block parties are a partnership with the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, Shock Top, Wicked Wines, RadioBDC, CHEN PR and the BID. All block parties will feature local musicians. The parties are from 5 to 8 pm and have a cash bar, lawn games and promotions.
|
|
Sweet Harmony Singing on Saturdays on Summer Street
The singing group Sweet Harmony is performing on Saturdays outside of Macy's on Summer Street from 12:30 to 3 pm.
Sweet Harmony is a professional performance troupe at Riverside Theatre Works in Hyde Park performing modern hits and songs through the years. |
|
Check Out World Premiere of 'Blood on the Snow' at the Old State House
The Boston Massacre is a well-known historical event, but not many know of the events that took place the day after, on March 6th, 1770. "Blood on the Snow" is a new play that is staged in the Council Chamber of the Old State House (206 Washington St.), which is the very room in which the events took place almost 250 years ago.
This new play by Patrick Gabridge tells the story of how the leaders of Boston unknowingly placed Massachusetts on the road to revolution. This production is part of the Bostonian Society's programming to bring the story of the Old State House to life through live drama. This play runs through June 5th. Click here for tickets and showtimes.
|
|
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women's Network Breakfast with
Martha Coakley on June 8th
The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Women's Network Breakfast with guest speaker Martha Coakley on Wednesday, June 8th at the Omni Parker House (60 School St.).
The topic is "Ten Not-So-Secret Tips to Make Your Life and Work, Work for You."
Registration and networking is from 7:30 to 8 am and the program is from 8 to 9 am. Click here to register. The price is $55 for Chamber members and $100 for non-members. |
|
RUM + Revolution at Old State House on June 9th
Enjoy tasting rum and chocolate with Revolutionary characters and a special guest author at RUM + Revolution at the Old State House (206 Washington St.) on Thursday, June 9th.
Sample rum in the beautiful galleries of the Old State House and meet the makers of the rum provided by Astraluna Distillery of Medfield, MA, and Privateer Distillery of Ipswich, MA. Each rum tasting will be complimented by delicious chocolate provided byTaza Chocolate of Somerville and light refreshment.
There will also be a raffle and each guest will be entered to win one of two baskets that will include: a signed poster of Brian Hoefling's book being released in October, a sampling of Taza Chocolate, a shot glass from the Old State House gift shop, a signed picture of one of the Old State House's Revolutionary Characters, and two bottles of rum, one from each distillery. Each guest will receive a total of four drink tickets to taste the rums and two mixed drinks. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased here. This event is from 6 to 8 pm. |
|
New Flash Forward Festival Art Exhibit in Lafayette City Center Passageway
[Photo]gogues: New England (Part 4), a new Flash Forward Festival art exhibit debuted last week in the Lafayette City Center Passageway. This new and free exhibit is not a definitive study of New England Photography Pedagogues, rather it is a sampling of faculty members from the region.
|
| | Studying in the dormitory, El Hanchane, Morocco by Amy Thompson Avishai |
This exhibit is comprised of the work from nine photography instructors who were invited to exhibit their work by Paula Tognarelli and Frances Jakubek, executive director and associate director of the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester.
This exhibit is being presented by the Lafayette City Center, the Downtown Boston BID, Magenta Foundation, the Flash Forward Festival Boston 2016 and the Griffin Museum. The Lafayette City Center Passageway links Macy's with the Hyatt Regency Boston and is open 10 am to 9 pm on Monday to Thursday, 10 am to 9:30 pm on Friday and Saturday and 10 am to 9 pm on Sunday. This exhibit will run to August 26th.
|
|
Downtown Boston BID Weekly News Update
For questions and comments, please contact David Ertischek, newsletter editor, at: [email protected] |
|
|
|
Winmil Fabrics Closing After
Four Decades in Downtown Crossing;
Thank You for Your Years of Service
After close to 47 years, Howard and Marilyn Held are retiring and closing their very popular Winmil Fabrics (107 Chauncy St.) business on June 14th.
|
| | Howard and Marilyn Held operated Winmil Fabrics for 47 years. (Photo by Joe Difazio for WBUR) |
"Our fabric store specialized in sample pieces. You never see our fabrics in a typical fabric store, only in the manufacturing industry," said Howard, who explained that through connections in North Carolina and New York, they were able to secure unusual and uncommon fabrics for reasonable prices. "We pride ourselves on good customer service. Our motto is on our bags -- The Best Prices and The Best Advice."
For longtime customers, some who have been coming to the store with their parents and grandparents, the store's closing is sad. "I usually buy materials and threads. I make doll clothes for my daughter. It's expensive to buy them from a store," said Fei Li, who works Downtown and has been a customer for more than a decade.
 Howard said he and his wife are looking forward to retirement to spend time with their children and grandchildren, as well as take some well-earned vacations. He said they'll also be traveling -- and look forward to going into fabric stores abroad. He added they saved some fabric for pillows.
"My mom told me about this place because she knew I liked crafting," said Jennifer Marrero, who's been coming to the store for close to a decade since she was in middle school. "I make pillows and costumes, and dolls for my nieces and nephews. This place has been here since I was a kid."
"It's been emotional for people, some who've had three generations come to the store," said Howard while flashing a bright smile. "We're the last full service fabric store in Downtown Boston. We have everything for a sewing project."
|
|
Ziggy's Coffee Bar Now Open on Tremont Street Serving Cold Brew Coffee and More
Ziggy's Coffee Bar (102 Tremont St.) opened recently and has a unique concept combining the attached Beantown Pub with the new coffee bar.
"It's the hot trend right now in premium coffee shops," said owner Roger Zeghibe, whose nickname is Ziggy. "It's to have a pub restaurant connected to a coffee bar. There's nothing like this in Downtown Boston."
Ziggy's opens at 7 am serving grab-and-go coffee, and starts a full service breakfast menu at 8 am, including cocktails like bloody marys and mimosas. Beantown Pub opens at 11 am and customers can go between both locations and order off either menu.
Ziggy's menu includes omelettes, paninis, salads, egg sandwiches and more, as well as numerous coffee drinks like cold brewed coffee on tap, which is very popular already. On the weekends Ziggy's is offering a brunch menu, will have live entertainment in the coming weeks, as well as make-your-own bloody marys option.
Ziggy's is open 7 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Call 617-426-0111 for Ziggy's or Beantown Pub (they share a phone). |
|
Downtown Boston BID Welcomes
George T. Comeau as
Marketing & Brand Activation Manager
This week the BID is welcoming George T. Comeau as its Marketing & Brand Activation Manager, a newly-created position.
Comeau has extensive experience in promoting brands and marketing, as well as television production. He received three degrees from Suffolk University, including a Law Degree and a Masters in Public Administration. At Suffolk he managed the university's communications and marketing before becoming a communications consultant for higher education and Fortune 500 companies. He was also appointed by two governors as a Commissioner of Public Libraries. He also founded the Friends of the Little Red House -- a non-profit dedicated to preserving the 300-year-old Tilden House.
"I can not think of a more exciting place to further my career than the Downtown Boston BID," said Comeau. "It is an exciting and vibrant time to join a team of valued professionals who have supported such enormous changes in the center of one of America's great cities."
"We are excited to have George Comeau join the BID. He has a strong background in marketing and brand activation, as well as many years of work experience in the nonprofit industry," said Rosemarie Sansone, President & CEO of the BID. |
Downtown Boston
Arts & Crafts Market at
Walgreens and CVS Plazas This Week
The Downtown Boston Arts & Crafts Market features local vendors offering handmade products.
Vendors will be at Walgreens Plaza (School and Washington streets) from 11 am to 6 pm on Wednesdays, and at CVS Plaza (Summer and Chauncy streets) from 11 am to 6 pm on Fridays. |
|
SPARK Boston Wants to Engage Millennials In Civic Participation
The City of Boston recently rebranded the Mayor's ONEin3 initiative to SPARK Boston to better engage millennials in civic participation.
The rebranding is part of a concerted effort to better engage, communicate and collaborate with residents between the ages of 20 and 34, a demographic that comprises more than a third of the city's overall population. Click here for more info about SPARK Boston and how to get involved. |
|
Now You Can Submit Your Own Event to the Downtown Boston BID Website
If you have an upcoming event you can now submit it to the Downtown Boston BID website. Click here to submit your own event.
Once approved by BID staff your event will be on the BID's calendar section and could be featured in this newsletter or on additional BID social media and promoted elsewhere. |
|
Still to Time to Sign Up for the Downtown Boston Lunchtime Baggo League
League Starts June 1st
The next Downtown Boston Lunchtime Baggo League is kicking off its season on June 1st and there's still time to sign up. This is a free league and games only take about 30 minutes -- so you'll be back at the office without missing a thing.
Games will be played outside of 100 Summer St. and 133 Federal St. from noon to 2 pm. Players typically have one game a week. There will be playoffs with prizes awarded after the championship. Please contact Mike Testa at [email protected] to sign up or if you have questions. |
|
|
Macy's Great Shoe & Sandal Sale
Presale & Event
Buy more and save more on women's shoes during Macy's Great Shoe & Sandal Sale, Presale and Event. The pre-sell ends May 31st and the sale event breaks on June 1st.
Take an extra 40% off when you buy three or more pairs, take an extra 30% off when you buy two pairs and take an extra 25% off when you buy one pair. |
|
Go Card Boston Available at
Macy's Visitor Center
The Go Card Boston allows people to visit multiple Boston attractions for one low price and is available at Macy's Visitor Center (first floor).
You can choose from purchasing the all-inclusive Go Card Boston, available 1-, 2-, 3-, 5- or 7-day increments. You can also alternatively purchase admission to specific museums, tours and activities. Click here to learn more about Go Card Boston options. |
|
Tasteful Tuesdays at Sebastians Cafe on Summer Street
Every Tuesday from noon to 1 pm, Sebastians Cafe (100 Summer St.) will be sampling an item from their catering menu -- there's something new every time so don't miss out.
|
|
BID Ambassadors Provide Clean & Hospitality Services in Downtown
The Downtown Boston BID Ambassadors provide clean and hospitality services seven days a week, nearly 24 hours a day. Ambassadors create a friendly, welcoming Downtown presence by helping visitors with directions, notifying fire and police personnel of incidents and more.
BID Ambassadors provide walking escorts all day or night -- they'll even tote an umbrella if it's raining or snowing! Please call 617-261-0066 to arrange an escort or for other BID ambassador services. You can also email [email protected].
- Ambassadors remove litter and graffiti
- Ambassadors clear handicapped ramps and storm drain openings
- Ambassador powerwash in Downtown Boston during warm weather
- Ambassadors maintain the BID's landscaping by watering flowers
- Masonry Ambassadors fix sidewalks and more
|
|
Additional BID Services & Info
- Communication and Business Networking
- Meetings with individual BID members to discuss neighborhood affairs
- Entertainment programming
- Member Advocacy
- Capital/Public Improvements
- Wayfinding
- Please click here for the 2016 BID Report to learn about the transformation of Downtown Crossing
- For additional details and information on the complete range of BID services please contact Doug Meyer, Membership Services & Database Manager, at [email protected].
|
|
Construction & Utility Work Updates
|
|
What's Being Built & Renovated? 100 Federal Street, 75-101 Federal Street and More
Downtown Boston is continually transforming, with new buildings rising, as well as transportation projects taking place underground and at street level.  Looking for the latest updates on developments, construction, sidewalk closings, and more? Click here. |
|
|
